Bernard Allen
Ceist:154 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education if she will set up a new pilot scheme for pre-schools in disadvantaged areas for the Farranree area in Cork city as well as a separate one for the Churchfield/Knocknaheeny areas.
Written Answers. - Pilot Pre-school Project.
I have recently announced the establishment of pilot pre-school projects in eight designated areas of disadvantage.
Decisions on the selection of locations for inclusion in these projects were taken after detailed consideration of needs across disadvantaged areas. As part of this process, it was decided that the pilot phase would concentrate on large urban areas of greatest disadvantage. In the case of each area selected, the intention is that the pre-school project will serve children from the catchment area of the school to which the project is being attached. Thus, in the case of the pre-school project being located in Padre Pio national school, Churchfield, Cork, the intention would be that the pre-school service would focus primarily on meeting the needs of pre-school children from the catchment area of that school.
It is intended that the operation of the initial pilot projects will be monitored very closely over the coming year to ensure that this valuable new initiative delivers maximum benefit to the children concerned. Based on experience gained under the pilot project, I will be considering the question of further expansion of the scheme and I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the areas he mentions will be considered in the context of any such development.